Diary 73-05: May, 1897 - preliminary transcript

Friday April 30

Same -- warmer -- A mouse still finding chance to get at my bureau drawers, gave me more trouble in carpentering line this PM -- The Russian Doctor turns up in Reno -- His wife went on this evening train -- Evening I did a good washing of old dirty socks, etc -- a clean up -- Bed 12 --

Mrs W Hy Doane Dead -- Howard Hackett Dead -- 1897 Ed Gamble leaves -- Jim Andrews -- Carson Band Open Air concert -- "Owney" not Killed as Reported -Nevada State Journal Reduced in size (see next page)

Saturday May 1

Cloudy and variable -- Odd jobs -- Mrs W Hy Doane of Carson died in Reno this morning, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs Bevier -- Was Bill Gibson's sister, and lived in Gold Hill when I did. She danced at my wedding at Lake Tahoe -- Died of heart disease or apoplexy after a brief illness -- Big woman of about 300 pounds. This refers to the genial toast master who presided with such jolly agreeable peculiarity at Sam Davis ranch banquet given March 7, at which I was present -- Shall always kindly remember "Oward Ackett". I met Ed A Gamble at train this evening, on his way to San Fran and New York for good -- One of the oldest druggists on the Comstock -- been keeping the Jones drugstore Gold Hill for several months past -- Met Jim Andrews formerly of Como -- dined with him at Johnny Anderson's eating place -- Put him to bed in room 6 at 10 -- The Carson Brass Band gave open air concert in front of court house this evening --

Big audience of course -- It is now stated in the newspapers that "Owney" was not killed as recorded (see April 11) -- It was another dog -- Bed 12 -- May 1, continued -- The Reno Journal came this morning reduced in size by one column less on each page, making it a 24 column paper instead of 28 columns as for several years past -- Presumably to reduce expenses and get rid of surplus space.

Mrs Doane's Remains arrive -- Fruit Blossoms & Green leaves -- 1897 -- Jim Andrews -- Jones & Tariff Mrs Doane's Funeral

Sunday May 2

Same -- The remains of Mrs Doane arrived on the local passenger train from Reno at 3:20 PM & were taken to the family residence near the railroad track -- Funeral tomorrow at 10 AM from there -- Had to send to SF for a big casket -- She weighed just a few days before death 274 lbs -- Her greatest weight in life was at one time 297 lbs -- so says her brother, Bill Gibson -- Put Jim Andrews in No 7, my old room, tonight -- Bed at 12 --

Monday May 3

Clear & pleasant -- Mrs Doane's funeral from her late residence in Carson, took place about 10 AM -- Buried in the Carson Cemetery -- 36 carriages -- PM I was up to US District court, Testimony all in, and case argument postponed till next Monday at 10 AM -- Bed 12 --

Mrs Rinckel Returns -- Wife with Records Comstock Payrolls -- Mrs Rinckel -- Henry Rives H H Bence -- Frost and Ice -- Senator Jones

Tuesday May 4

Same -- Mrs Rinckel, my landlady, returned from her visit to San Francisco this morning -- Sent letter to wife this evening accompanied by returned bundle of Students Records -- University -- Bed 12 -- Comstock Payroll for April $65,703.91 -- $5,000 more than last --

Wednesday May 5

Same -- Letter from Henry Rives, Salt Lake May 3 says will be here Monday next, & cash up -- Sent 2 page letter to H H Bence, Wash Postoffice, Mohawk Valley, Plumas County California -- Mrs Rinckel visited the lodging house this PM, and we had quite a talk and "inspection" -- Evening clouded & breezed up from the SW -- cooler -- Bed 12 --

Thursday May 6

Same -- cooler -- Letter from Wife -- responded -- odd jobs -- Bed 12 -- cold, and inclined to be frosty -- (Exempt notification rec'd -- See Saturday)

Friday May 7

Same -- cool & breezy -- Frost and ice found last night about town nearly as thick as window glass -- young fruit somewhat harmed by it -- Sent one page letter to Senator Jones, Washington, D.C. -- Dan Coulliard & family left [Circi, Carson Exchange Hotel] this morning for Glenbrook Lake Tahoe

Dan Coulliard's Departure for Lake Tahoe -- 1897 Band Concert -- Cold Snap -- Lake Tahoe Season Opening Ice! -- Read Out of the Exempts -- Heney's Fine & Mortages Douglass and Lyon Counties Boundary Survey

where they have taken lease of the Lake Shore Hotel -- Evening, concert of the Nevada State Band, at Opera House -- Good success -- Bed 12 -- Cold freezing night -- colder than last night -- The road to Lake Tahoe is open all right and the lumbering season there is commencing --

Saturday May 8

Same -- Ice thick as window glass plentiful this morning -- Fruit blossoms were extensively killed -- Bed 12 -- cold as last night -- Day before yesterday, Thursday, I received an ultimate notification from Fred D Plunkett, Secy of the Virginia Exempt Firemen's Association that my delinquent dues amounted to $9 and that I was liable to suspension from membership -- At the bottom he wrote: "Alf, I am instructed to forward this by the Association as the last appeal. Plunk." So, as I am unable to financial come up to the racket, I shall very probably be read out of the Association at the regular monthly meeting tomorrow -- The Heney $5,000 fine and mortgage case came up in the US District Court again today -- I didn't attend, but the Appeal tells the story as follows:

Ice! -- J W Wilson Dead -- Judge Rives -- $35 Fruit Crop injured -- Will McCrimmon Suicided "Companion" Bicycle

Sunday May 9

Same - I placed a milk pan of water on the back platform of my lodgings last evening and this morning found ice formed on it about quarter of

inch thick -- Set out same pan again tonight but weather much warmer -- guess no freeze -- Evening was at Salvation Army awhile with Bob Feelstone -- Bed 12 -- A double bicycle styled the "Companion" appeared on the street this evening after it arrived on the PM local -- Lady and gent rode abreast, & afterward 2 gents -- Very sociable affair --

Monday May 10

Cloudy but very springlike & pleasant -- Judge Henry Rives arrived on the morning train -- Owes me $35 -- Shall meet him "a little later on," as he told me -- Bed 12 -- The ice of night last killed most of the cherries gooseberry etc -- And also hurt apples in some places -- J W McCrimmon, about 20 yrs old suicided with big dose of morphine at Washoe City night before last -- crossed in love, too much beer, etc -- Member of Carson

McCrimmon suicide -- Mrs Virden -- Bill James -- 1897

Fire Dept and funeral this PM from family residence well attended by the fire boys in uniform and friends of family -- 18 carriages -- He leaves father, mother, and 2 brothers here -- Father a blacksmith John McCrimmon --

Tuesday May 11

Clear, cool and pleasant -- At morning train I met Mrs Virden -- from Bridgeport -- She is stopping at present with Hon Tom Rickey's family here -- got older and deafer -- Virden was re-elected last Fall as Superior Judge of Mono County -- $3,000 a year -- 6 yrs term -- Also met W S James